CHARLTON manager Alan Curbishley has said the modernisation of the club’s Sparrows Lane training ground is a high priority over the next three years.

He has a deal keeping him at the club until 2007 and, in that time, he hopes to oversee the building of new headquarters for the Academy and the upgrading of pitches and first team facilities.

There are also plans for a shooting tunnel, volleyball court and new press room.

He said: “Although we have nice training ground, we are in a position to improve it and push it on to another level. At the moment, the facilities are not good enough for a Premiership club.

“What we’re doing is to take a long-term view of the training ground. What we have there are nice pitches but the building is not good enough.

“The Academy needs moving to a different area because I want the training ground for the exclusive use of the first team. Overall, the facilities are not good enough for people like the press.

“To get everything right will represent another step forward for the club. We shall improve the quality of the pitches and that includes the irrigation.

“I think we are in a position to do that without drastically affecting other things we want to do.”

He added: “At the moment, the building at the training ground is used too much. The Academy are in with us and then at 5pm the School of Excellence come in and you just can’t move.

“The Academy will still use the pitches but they won’t be in the same building which will free up a lot of space for the medical department to have more room while the gym can be bigger.

“I’ve got another three years at the club and if I can improve the training ground, then I’ll be well satisfied.”